Astros hopeful Yuli Gurriel can avoid DL after making progress with injury

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Yuli Gurriel exited a back field at the Astros sprawling West Palm Beach spring training complex to a throng of autograph-seeking fans.

"Today was the best day," he said.

Gurriel took batting practice off a high velocity pitching machine on Sunday, a critical step in the first baseman's recovery from hand surgery almost four weeks ago. He showed no immediate ill effects while lifting multiple balls into the gap and deep to the warning track.

"I've felt better and better as each day has gone on," Gurriel said through a translator before taking batting practice. "The pain has gotten less and less."

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There is still "potential" that Gurriel can avoid a DL stint, manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday.

Gurriel will remain in West Palm Beach this week where the team has a "regimented program" for him to follow in hopes he can participate in either a minor league game or a simulated game.

"The resistance off the bat is going to be closer to game speed and with the ball traveling upper 80s and lower 90 miles per hour," Hinch said. "These next two days of hitting off the high velocity machine will be a big test for him. That's where the resistance will increase and so will his (bat) speed."

Gurriel still must serve the five-game suspension he incurred after his gesture toward Yu Darvish in the World Series. The suspension must be served independent of any possible DL stint.